NSW records 244 Covid-19 cases, restrictions to be further eased

NSW has recorded 244 new cases of Covid-19 as the state prepares for restrictions to be further eased and a new vaccine clinic to open.

NSW has recorded 244 new Covid-19 infections and one death on Sunday as the state prepares to further relax restrictions.

Health officials say an unvaccinated Albury man in his 60s died at Box Hill Hospital in Victoria.

There are currently 269 cases admitted to hospital in NSW, with 52 people in intensive care, 24 of whom require ventilation.

Restrictions will be eased further for vaccinated people from Monday, when there will be no limits on the number of people allowed in homes or at major recreation and entertainment facilities.

Masks will no longer need to be worn in office buildings, but they will still be required for staff and customers in all indoor settings including on public transport.

There will no longer be caps on the number of people allowed in venues apart from at gym or dance classes, in which a 20 person limit remains.

However, the one person per two sqm density limit will remain in place for all indoor and outdoor settings.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet on Sunday visited a new vaccination clinic in western Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

Coronavirus restrictions will continue for people who are unvaccinated until December 15 or when the state hits the 95 per cent double-vaccination target.

On that date, the public health order requiring proof of vaccination is due to be scrapped and non-critical retail can reopen to unvaccinated people.

NSW health officials on Sunday said 89.7 per cent of people aged over 16 have now had two doses of a coronavirus vaccine.

Almost 94 per cent of this group of people have had at least one dose.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said people should start thinking about their third Covid-19 vaccine doses. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

The Qudos Bank Arena vaccination centre at Sydney’s Olympic Park will close on Monday after administering more than 360,000 Covid-19 vaccines.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and Health Minister Brad Hazzard on Sunday announced a new vaccination clinic would open at the Granville Centre in western Sydney, which will also offer booster shots to people aged over 18.

“NSW has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world and the people of western and southwestern Sydney helped lead the charge,” Mr Perrottet said.

“Our Covid-19 vaccination clinics have played an important role in helping fast-track our vaccination rates, which is helping us return to normal in a safe and measured way.

Mr Hazzard said NSW residents should start thinking about when they will require a booster dose – usually six months after their last one.

Mr Perrottet met with health workers at the Granville Centre vaccination clinic in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

“We don’t yet know how many times we will have to have the booster shots, but we know we have to have them,” he said.

“What we’re envisaging is that the boosters will eventually become primarily the work of GPs and pharmacists, but NSW (Health) is still going to be there for the long haul.”

Mr Perrottet said the amount of new infections had been lower than expected since NSW began reopening, but authorities were still expecting them to rise.

“They’re below where we predicted they would be. But that does not mean there are not challenges down the road for NSW,” he said.

Meanwhile, the ACT reported 13 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, bringing its total number of active infections to 135.

One person is in hospital there with the virus and they are on a ventilator in intensive care.

In the ACT, 94.4 per cent of residents aged over 12 are now fully vaccinated against Covid-19.